Cotto said a police officer pulled into a gas station parking lot and spotted a Toyota full of people watching him as he exited his cruiser. The officer, thinking that was suspicious, followed the Toyota from the gas station and checked its license plate.

The car came back as stolen, and its driver pulled into a store parking lot at 10 Cross St., where several occupants ditched the car and ran away, Cotto said. Officers were able to corral and arrest Pierre and two others, Cotto said.

Pierre was released on a written promise to appear in court Jan. 12. The youthful offender, whose identity is kept from the public, was held in lieu of $10,000 bond.